How The West Was Won: The Broncos beat the Chiefs, and the Texans beat the Chargers.

Wow! The Broncos clinched their first objective – the AFC West division title – while sitting on sofas, walking in parks and waiting patiently until game’s end Saturday.

Now the Broncos must clunk the Chargers Jan. 4 to guarantee the conference’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs, a bye in the first round and the home field advantage for optimistically two games to accomplish their next objectives.

Pow, the Broncos have an ultimate goal.

Houston did Denver a solid Saturday in Los Angeles, scoring two touchdowns immediately and holding off the Chargers late in a battle of two coaches who could have been in Colorado. The Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh was the Broncos’ first coaching choice in 2023, and DeMeco Ryans of the Texans was second or third on the list.

Yet, Sean Payton turned out to be the Broncos’ higher hire.

All three NFL franchises have been ecstatic with their coaching solutions.

The Broncos’ 16th AFC Division first place finish (one behind the Chiefs and one ahead of the Raiders) took a while in coming – 10 years.

But the wait wasn’t quite as long for Payton. During his reign of success with the Saints, they were first most recently in the NFC South from 2017-2020 – while the Broncos were struggling and scuffling.

Yet, the last time the Broncos were first they won Super Bowl 50 with a Peyton at quarterback. The only time Payton won the Super Bowl was XLIV in the 2009 season over a team with that quarterback named Peyton.

The Broncos have been to eight Super Bowls and won three.

Sean seeks a second trip and triumph.

A doofus claiming to be a Broncos expert states that Payton reserved a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame by prevailing over Andy Reid Christmas night. Not so fast there, three-toed sloth. Reid will be a certain cinch coach candidate quickly. Although Payton has ascended to 13th in NFL regular season victories with 183 (and he’s 11th including the postseason), the Broncos boss will have to coach at and win another Super Bowl. Mike Shanahan won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos and still is on the Canton cusp.

In a season without an overwhelming favorite in the NFL to take the title, the Broncos’ odds at 9-to-1 are tied for fourth with the Patriots.

Seems like a betting line from 2015, but not lately. The Vegas Guys like the Rams best, followed by the Seahawks, then the Bills.

Broncos-Seahawks? Uh-oh. Not again. However, the rematch is possible with the Broncos at 13-3 and the Seahawks with a 12-3 record and the chance to equal the Broncos with a victory over the Panthers on Sunday.

Broncos-Panthers? Déjà vu? No.

Broncos-Packers? “28 Years Later’’ sounds like a movie sequel.

Broncos-Cowboys, Giants or Commanders? Been there. Done that. Lost those.

The Bills and the Texans and maybe the Chargers are serious troublemakers for the Broncos in the playoffs. A game in Denver obviously is more advantageous than Buffalo or New England, but a Super Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif., would be a second auspicious appearance for the Broncos.

Oddly enough, both the Broncos and Payton have produced four 13-3 seasons. Peyton had two with the Broncos.

The 2025 Broncos can become Payton’s first 14-victory season (with three losses) and the Broncos’ second (with two defeats in 1998).

This season’s results for the Broncos were peculiar in retrospect when compared to the original schedule released. So many close contests, so many comebacks, so many conundrums in reaching the 17th game vs. the Chargers. The Broncos could be seed No. 1 or as low as No. 5. The Broncos won in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., London and Las Vegas. They have lost in Indianapolis and Los Angeles. And they finally lost at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars who played like Juggernauts.

Broncos-Jags Redux?

The Broncos have proven that it’s not over until . . .

The team’s defense has been Orange Crush-like most of the season, but the offense has played unpredictably from first to final quarters, and Payton has coached capriciously.

Nevertheless, 14-3 or even 13-4 marks would have been considered quixotic before the season.

The Texans helped the Broncos.

Somehow now the Broncos must help themselves.